Electrocution Accident Attorneys
Electrical accidents can occur in the home, in the workplace, or even in a public place. Injuries caused by an accidental electrical shock can cause anything from a minor shock and burns to severe injuries or death by electrocution. If you were injured in an electrical accident, or have lost a loved one as the result of electrocution, the team at Bailey Fisher can help you secure the compensation to which you are entitled for the physical, emotional, and financial damages caused by the accident.
Electrical Accident Fact and Figures
According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), there are at least 30,000 non-fatal shock accidents and 1000 deaths caused by electrocution each year in the United States. One in five electrical injury victims is a child. Moreover, about five percent of all burn unit admissions are prompted by an electrical injury. In the workplace, electrocution is one of the “fatal four” causes of construction worker deaths, accounting for about nine percent of all construction worker fatalities each year in the U.S, and the fourth leading cause of workplace injuries.
Causes of Electrocution Accidents
An electrocution injury occurs when a large quantity of electrical current passes through a person’s body. The severity of the injury caused by an electrical shock accident will depend on a variety of factors, including the voltage and current, the amount of time the current flows through the victim’s body, and what part of the body comes into contact with the electricity. Common causes of electrocution accidents include:
- Faulty electrical wiring
- Defective products
- Negligent maintenance or construction of electrical wiring outside a home or office
- Improperly installed outlets or electrical wiring
- Electricity coming into contact with water
Electrical Accident Injuries
The victim of an electrical shock accident can suffer a multitude of different types of injuries that may affect various parts of the body, such as:
- Soft tissue and skin – even a relatively minor electrocution may result in severe burns at the ground points and the point of contact.
- Muscles – electrocution causes an involuntary contraction of muscles. If sustained for a prolonged period of time it can result in kidney damage.
- Spinal cord and brain – if an electrical current passes all the way through a victim’s body it can damage the spinal cord and/or brain. Brain damage, nerve injuries, seizures, and even psychiatric problems can occur.
- Heart – electrocution can cause ventricular fibrillation (fluttering) or even cause the heart to stop beating entirely.
- Death – the most severe electrical shock injuries result in electrocution causing death.
Compensation for an Accidental Electrical Injury
The victim of an electrical accident may be entitled to compensation for the physical and emotional injuries caused by the electrical shock. If the accident occurred in the workplace, the victim may be covered under the employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. Workers’ compensation, however, does not compensate an injured worker for pain and suffering. Only a traditional personal injury lawsuit allows compensation for non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering. If the injuries were caused by a defective product, anyone in the “stream of commerce” could potentially be held legally accountable for the victim’s injuries. If improperly installed or maintained wiring is to blame for the electrocution, a government entity (such as the utility company), builder, or maintenance provider might be held liable.
Get Help from Experienced Electrocution Accident Attorneys
If you were injured in an electrical accident, or you are the surviving family member of someone who was fatally injured in one, the electrocution accidents attorneys at Bailey Fisher Law have the experience, skill, and determination necessary to ensure that the party responsible for your injuries or loss is held accountable.
At Bailey Fisher, we are committed to aggressively advocating for you and your right to be fully and fairly compensated if you are the victim, or surviving loved one, of an electrocution accident.
Call us at 407-628-2929 or submit our online form today. One of our experienced Orlando electrocution accident attorneys will evaluate your case for free. For viable personal injury cases, we will follow up with the necessary legal action to hold the responsible party accountable for their negligence and recover the financial compensation you deserve for your pain, suffering, and losses.
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